Container and tamper evident closure

ABSTRACT

A container and tamper evident closure comprising a container having a body portion, shoulder and a cylindrical dispensing unit extending upward from the shoulder. The closure is comprised of a closure aperture with a skirt depending from the area of the closure aperture. The cylindrical dispensing unit has a rotation limiting mechanism. The closure attaches to the cylindrical dispensing unit or to the shoulder and has one or more weakened areas on the skirt. Upon the twisting of the closure to remove it from the container the weakened areas are stressed and show distortion or are severed. This is clear evidence of tampering.

This invention relates to a container with a tamper evident closure. More particularly this invention relates to a closure where upon an unauthorized twisting to remove the closure portions of the closure will be distorted and/or ruptured.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many technologies for making closures for containers tamper evident. These include shrink bands of plastic, a shrink sleeve over a part or all of a container and closure. In addition there are bands which are bridged to the closure where the bridged are broken upon an opening of the container. In each of these a tampering is evidenced by a lack of a shrink band or sleeve or a closure with a severed band. There are yet other tamper evident structures for a closure. However many require an added feature as discussed above where shrink bands or sleeves or a bridged band is required.

The present invention solves the problem of having a less costly tamper evident closure for a container. No added item is required. The closure side surfaces will have one or more weakened areas. Upon an unauthorized attempted removal of the closure the one or more weakened areas will have become distorted and/or ruptured. This will be a positive indication of an unauthorized attempt to remove the closure and open the container. This product then is not available for purchase and is removed from the shelf.

This tamper evident container and closure does not require any added item such as shrink bands or sleeves or bridged bands. The closure is one molded piece as in the container. Neither has an added item. The tamper evidency is accomplished solely by a restriction of rotation of the closure and weakened areas that distort and/or rupture upon a torquing of the closure during an attempt to remove the closure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a container with a tamper evident closure which is comprised of a container having a body portion with a shoulder on one end of the body portion. Extending from the shoulder is a cylindrical dispensing unit. There is at least one anti-rotation means on an exterior surface of the cylindrical dispensing unit. The closure has a closure channel which when applied to the container is in alignment with the cylindrical dispensing unit of the container. A peripheral skirt extends down from an area surrounding the closure channel, this peripheral skirt having at least one weakened area. The closure also has a closure anti-rotation means which interacts with the anti-rotation means on the cylindrical dispensing unit. The cylindrical dispensing unit anti-rotation means preferably is a cam which interfits with at least one closure projection extending from the closure adjacent the closure channel. In a further preferred embodiment this projection has a ledge at a lower end which interacts with a flange on the cylindrical dispensing unit to attach the closure to the container.

Upon an unauthorized attempt to remove the closure the cylindrical dispensing unit anti-rotation means prevents any rotation of the closure by keeping the at least one closure projection from rotating on the cylindrical dispensing unit. Such an attempt at rotation causes stress on the closure distorting and/or rupturing the at least one weakened area providing visual indication of an unauthorized tampering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container and closure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container and closure with the closure open.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the container and closure.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom side of the closure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the closure along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be disclosed in more detail in the preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Modifications can be made to these embodiments but yet be within the concept of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the body portion 12 of container and closure 10 with right side surface 18 and front surface 16. Closure 14 is attached to body portion 12. The closure is comprised of a skirt 15 (see FIG. 3) having a right sidewall 22 and front wall 24. Lid 20 fully closes a dispensing opening of the closure. Ledge 26 provides a grip for the opening lid 20. Weakened areas 76 on the inner surface of front wall 24 are shown in dashed lines. These are shown in more detail in FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 shows the container with the lid open. The closure 14 has top surface 40 with channel 43 defined by ridge 42. Within the channel 43 is anti-refill beam 44 which makes re-filling for reuse difficult. The lid 20 is attached to the top surface 40 by hinge 36. The lid has plug 32 for sealing aperture 43 and a force transfer ring 30. The force transfer ring transfers forces on the exterior of lid directly to the top surface 40 rather than from the lid edges to the top surface.

FIG. 3 shows the closure in the same detail as FIG. 2. However this view shows the upper part of the container in more detail. The container body 12 has a shoulder 48 which has a ledge 50 formed by vertical surface 52. This ledge accepts the lower edge of the closure. The container shoulder top surface 54 supports cylindrical dispensing unit 58 and has a flange 62 for attachment of the closure 14. Dispensing unit cam 56 is a part of the closure anti-rotation mechanism. Any equivalent projection can be used in place of cam 56. This cam, along with a similar cam on the other side of the cylindrical dispensing unit, will prevent the rotation of the closure on the container body by cooperation with cam projections on the closure. Interference by the cams on the container cylindrical dispensing unit 58 and cam projections on the closure 14 will prevent the rotation of the closure 14 on the container body portion 12.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the underside of the closure 14. This view shows the outer surface of lid 20 and the inner surface of skirt 15 of the closure. The closure 14 has an inner surface 70 of the cylindrical dispensing unit with aperture 43 defined by ridge 42. Also shown is anti-refill bean 44. Projecting down from inner surface 70 are closure cam projections 74. The closure cam projections 74 have two functions. The first is to provide an interference with cylindrical dispensing unit cams 56 and thus prevent rotation of the closure 14 on container body 12. The second is to have ledge 78 on the closure cam projections 74 fit under flange 62 into space 64 of the cylindrical dispensing unit 58 and prevented from rotation on the dispensing unit. Also shown in this view are weakened areas 76 on the front 24 and rear 23 surfaces of the closure. These weakened areas are areas of a decreased thickness of the skirt walls. This can be a decrease of up to fifty percent or more. These weakened surfaces 76 will be distorted and/or ruptured upon a forced removal of the closure 14 from the container body 12. This distortion and/or rupture is evidence that the container has been subject to tampering.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 along line 5-5. Shown is more detail is the structure of closure cam projections 74. These have an upper end 80 attached to the closure and a lower locking ledge 78 for fitting under flange 62 and into spare 64 to secure the closure 14 to the container body 12. Also shown are weakened areas 76 which are distorted or ruptured upon an attempt to remove the closure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container alone. This view also shows container left side 11. Also shown are the two cams 56 on the cylindrical dispensing unit 58. All of the other parts of the container have been described above.

The container is blow molded from essentially any thermoplastic. Useful thermoplastics are polyethylenes, polypropylenes, vinyl chlorides and polyethylene terephthalates. The closure will be injection molded and can be essentially any thermoplastic. Useful thermoplastics include those used for the container. 

1. A container and tamper evident closure comprising a container having a body portion, a shoulder on one end of said body portion and a cylindrical dispensing unit on the extending unit on extending from said shoulder, said closure comprising a closure channel in alignment with said cylindrical dispensing unit, a skirt depending from said channel, said skirt having at least one weakened area whereby when said closure is attempted to be removed by twisting said at least one weakened area is visually affected to provide a signal of such attempt.
 2. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein there are at least two weakened areas.
 3. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein said at least one weakened area is on an interior surface of said closure.
 4. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein said closure is attached to said cylindrical dispensing unit.
 5. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 4 wherein said closure is attached to said cylindrical dispensing unit by an interference fit.
 6. A container and closure as in claim 1 wherein said closure is attached to said shoulder.
 7. A container and closure as in claim 6 wherein said closure is attached to said shoulder by an interference fit.
 8. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical dispensing unit has a rotation limiting means.
 9. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 8 wherein said rotation limiting means is at least one cam.
 10. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein said closure has at least one projection which interacts with a rotation limiting means on said cylindrical dispensing unit.
 11. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 10 wherein said rotation limiting means is at least one cam.
 12. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 10 wherein said projection is a cam.
 13. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein said closure channel has a refill limitation device.
 14. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein said closure has a lid.
 15. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 14 wherein said lid is attached to said closure by a hinge.
 16. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 14 wherein said lid has a reinforcement structure on a lower part thereof.
 17. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein said at least one weakened area is at least partially fractured as a signal of such attempt.
 18. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein said at least one weakened area is visually distorted as a signal of such attempt.
 19. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein said body portion is non-circular.
 20. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 17 wherein said body portion is substantially rectangular. 